AlisonMT

Didn't want to bore anyone else with my DC/life babblings, so I thought I'd start a separate thread!

FH is 99% certain he is going to UVA for grad school. 2 hrs away from DC, but better than 7 from NYC!

I work in the pharmaceutical industry and am looking to make a move into sales.

As for location, we're not sure where we're going to live. FH has good friends in Falls Church and Fairfax, so we'll start looking for a place there probably. But if you have suggestions by all means send my way!!

Good idea!

So you don't think you'd move closer to Charlottesville, then? Is it a full-time program he'll be doing, or part-time? Won't the 2-hr commute be a pain for him?

That said, DC is a GREAT city. I really love it here. Not to offend anyone on these boards, but I like it MUCH better than LI. And even NYC, where I lived after I graduated college. I've now been here 7 years (Wow!) with no intent to leave anytime soon!

Falls Church and Fairfax are both nice areas. I am more partial to Falls Church, but it can also be more expensive. Depends what you're looking for, I guess. FH and I live in Arlington. If you ever come down to house hunt or whatever, I can give you my contact info if you want to say hi.

As for job hunting, I do have one friend who was doing sales in the healthcare industry, though not pharmaceuticals, per se...and it was for HealthSouth, too, so I'm not sure how good a lead that really is. I do have another friend whose sister is in DC and she used to work for Eli Lilly (though she doesn't anymore). Maybe I could put you in touch with her, at least for ideas...?

FH's program is a 1 year full-time program, so he would be in C'ville during the week and then we'd have weekends together. Yeah, it'll s.uck not being together during the week, but at least its not 7 hrs and then we can see each other every weekend without killing ourselves, or cars (or our credit cards!)

We were at a friend's house in Fairfax last weekend - so awesome compared to our place in the city. They have a 3 bed/2.5 bath townhouse with W/D, a deck, yard and garage for less than we're paying for our 600sq foot apartment. I was floored.

I would love to talk to your friend's sister about Lily and the industry as a whole, if she would be willing to chat. Maybe I can send her my resume or something like that - would love to get some insight as I am trying to break into the sales end of the business after some time in other roles.

So 7 years in DC? Wow! Where is Arlington in relation to the city (and falls church/fairfax)? What do you do for a living? Did you meet your FH in DC?

I would love to catch up when I'm next in town. Not sure exactly when that'll be, but I'll FM you my contact info and will give you a heads up when I know what our plans are!

Well, DC area is getting more and more expensive, but it still beats the pants off NYC! You can still get a lot more for your $$. When I first moved down, it was with my NYC roommate (hs best friend and now MOH)...we were sharing a 1-br on the Upper East Side...one bathroom, one closet, almost no living room, etc. Moved to Silver Spring, MD, right outside DC and got a HUGE place with two bedrooms, two baths, a huge kitchen, living room, and dining room, and a balcony, for at least $500 less than what we paid in NY. It's definitely a nice 'reverse sticker shock'!

FH and I bought a townhouse in Arlington, VA, which is VERY close to Falls Church and also to the District...about 10 mins from either, and 20-30 from Fairfax. FH actually used to live in Fairfax himself before we moved in together. I have actually lived in MD, DC, and VA now. Such a globetrotter I am!

So where does your FH live now?

I will ask my friend about her sis and Lilly and let you know if you can email her. I'll also FM you my contact info.

As for what I do, I'm in marketing for a university and working on my MBA at night. FH and I actually met in college, but didn't start dating until we ran into each other at an alumni event here in DC 4 years ago (WOW).

how do you like your MBA? I just finished mine and it was by far one of the best decisions I ever made. I went back full time, which was tough but I am so glad that I bit the bullet and did it. I never would have later on. I actually met FH a month into school - he is a consultant and we met on a blind date. He was living in atlanta when we met, but moved to NY last summer to be with me while I finished school and for a project at work. He's from the area originally. We're both so eager to get out of here, though.

You lived on the UES? I actually grew up on 95th street. FH and I are living on the UWS now, near Columbia U.

So other than Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax should we be looking anywhere else for a place? We're planning on renting the first year or two and then selling my apt here in NY and buying something after FH finishes school...

Meghan, we definitely have to talk!! One of my big dilemmas right now is whether to keep plugging away at the MBA part-time or bite the bullet and go back and finish it up full-time. The latter means quitting my job, which currently pays for the MBA, so it would be a tough thing to do. On the other hand, I feel like this is dragging on and on (I've been doing it 2 yrs already!) and I'm not getting as much out of it as I could. I don't know...such a complicated decision! I'm in 'research and exploration mode' right now and hope to figure it out before my wedding, though, so I can know what I'm doing come August when classes start up again.

So where did you get yours? And where are/were you working before and now?

Too funny that you grew up on East 95th Street...that is one of the places I lived when I was in NYC!! In fact, that's the place I described in my last post!! Bet you can't guess which building!! Have you spoken with Julykbride on these boards at all? She's in San Diego now but when we first started chatting she, too, lived on East 95th!! Small world!

I also lived on the Upper West, at 86th and Broadway, when I first moved to NYC.

I'm wondering if we should move this thread to FM instead, since it's just us two talking about personal stuff? What do you think?

Meanwhile, I am going to sign off. FH and I are going to try to hit an early dinner and movie tonight. Will try to log on again later this weekend.

Send me an FM and let's continue chatting!!

This is such a small world!!

I sent you an FM with my info!! Let's definitely chat. Are you going to head up for the GTG on the 8th or save your prize for a future GTG?

Unfortunately, I can't make the June 8 GTG. Too much going on down here with wedding stuff, guests in town, et al. PLUS we'll be up in NY the FOLLOWING weekend for marriage license, hair trial, etc., so it would be just too much back and forth. So I'm going to save it for another time. Very psyched that I won, though. How cool is LIW?!

OK, heading home now. Will catch you on FM!